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| Staff Writer |
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As a result of a $1,000,000 lottery victory, Godolphin's travelling assistant Nacim Delmi was quite pleased with Vilana after seeing the 4YO perform in The Hunter last weekend; Vilana is expected to run in Saturday's $1.5 million Gr.1 Winterbottom Stakes. Given that Vilana raced just days before departing for Perth, Delmi's praise for his travel preparations is understandable. While Cascadian, Kementari, and Paulele were all on James Cummings' radar for a trip to Perth for the $1.5 million Gold Rush on the fifth day of The Pinnacles at Ascot over 1400 metres on December 10, Vilana's win in The Hunter allowed him to be added as a late replacement.
On Saturday, Vilana and her stablemate Paulele, who is also headed to Winterbottom, had a track gallop at Belmont, and both horses looked well to Delmi. Vilana is a $5 second-line pick in TAB's all-in Winterbottom market, behind the $4.50 favourite Rothfire and the $9 long shot Paulele. While Jamie Kah is scheduled to ride Vilana, Ben Melham will pilot Paulele in the Winterbottom.
Cascadian, a 7YO, came in fifth in the Group 1 Champions Stakes on November 5 at Flemington, two lengths behind the winner, Alligator Blood. He also made it to Perth without any problems. James Mcdonald, who will be riding Cascadian in the 1800-meter Group 1 feature, will watch the Godolphin team work out in trials and gallops on Monday and Tuesday.
Kementari is a stable veteran who has adjusted well to his new surroundings in preparation for his attempt to win the Gold Rush (previously the AJ Scahill Stakes) for a second time. Kementari, who came in seventh in The Everest, just behind Giga Kick, then placed third in the Nature Strip Stakes at Rosehill on October 29.